The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1887-05-26

fnH snatsa Statesmen Opposed 90 any
ekazEs. fs Their Territory by
G~oaGr~ss-Ths AfIot-
naent Plaza

a L1ls ksck. ARK. Telegram %
April - % TAe Nsg Tort Hsraid. says
The Chsrekes legislature il now sitting
- T~EAbqaaA. capital II the nation. hay.
nag been ealisi togsthsr in extra ses.
ssa bF Assistant and Acting CHIEF
hsaeh. tire date of assembling being
April n Thsns ARD hfiy-stght mem
hsFs 10 bath hoaz-sigbte-sn senator.
4ha tgrtF representative nearly NIL OF
shasH are tzking part in the delibera-
toaz Ths message IF the principal
ehief has BEEN read in Joint session. II
b ysrF bret simPiy stating that in bis
sgiaisH Pabiie Interests demanded a
sPssiaI Blesting II the legislature and
saszesaae that legislation Of some sort
- deemed Hssessary Hpon certain mat
ter Whieh b. nanies in regular order.
AfEiees received from Tahlequah to-
alF shss thai the action Of the legisla-
tuEs watched with the deepest inter
e-E D. al classes Of Cherokees. as well
~ b. the ulsre Intelligent portion of
HehsrHg tribes. The times are
susinsas ~ Gas the CherOkees believe)
esd The solution OF the Indian prob
b-m. "A q form at least. seems rapid
aPProaeAing The proposed legisl2-
n0a b. eongrrss. in the shape Of Okla
homa aEd other measures. which virtu-
ally open IBdian Territory 10 white
settbsmenk. has created widespread
alarm. and THIS feelihg Is intensified By
Tire fact that beading journals and APP
Parenfly a prep0ni-rance Of public
s-Hhment favor congressional action
hl8kHng % tins end Opposition 20 such
~Pros7eaiing II very great among the
Indians In fHt. the prospect Of al
tDttBg tn iaHds ia seyeralty and open
AZ the IniiaR country TO white settlers
from the United States Is repugnant to
tso-thiris Of the Cherokee Indians.
Nho desire 10 b.. allowed % work out
- solution of the Indian problem
sitter = fashion Of their own. and with
yuf congressional Intervention of white
settlers. The remaining four tribes
namely. Choctaws. Chickasaws. Creeks,
and SemiRoles. which. with the Chero-
kees. constitute the Ave civilized tribes
AR represented as being equally hos
nb - aHy attempt having for an object
he settlement Of any portion of the
territory it would seem that upon
lhls point al the tribes will act in unison
and present an unbraken and determin-
I'd opposition.
The subject Of aliOrting the lands in
.srveraity. and selling the residue to the
government has been discussed among
the C~hsrOkees for a past. Col.
James n Bell. one of the most emf
neHs CherOkees in the history of the
iribe. advocated allotment in accord
amer with treaty a a means of prevent
ing sectiOnizafiOR BY the United States
government contrary to treaty. Col.
Bel mad an effort 20 educate the Cher
Jkers 70 the idea that such policy would
D. best for the tribe. bat the masses re
fused - BE- guided By his counsels and
reLegatsd him 10 private life. This was
bali a century aga. Since that period
the views then advocated have made
roadway. and there are many Chero-
of sagacity who believe to-day that
allotment viii save the nation and tribe
frofa common ruin. But popular sem
ument ard prejudice are strongly
against these advanced views, and the
rieRds of allotment are fairly swallowed
up In the wave Of public opinion. Not
are they silenced. but it Is safe to
say that as the agitation increases there
all not be a voice raised nor "A finger
flied in favor Of any measure. no mat
or how favorable il NAV be. proposed
y congress for the opening to white
Of any land in the Indian
country
The CherOkees claim every acre of
and embraced in their territory. except
ng such as has been sold to the United
states for the use of other Indian tribes.
They assert that there is no vacant land
n their country belonging to the gov
.rnment and that the Cherokee title is
In 3 special message trans
nitted by Chief Bushyhead to the Cher
'kee legislature last November in rela-
TO the status of lands west of 90
the chief saws:
The lands lying west of 90 were
lever coded TO the United States. and
he title. possession and jurisdiction
yer remain with the Cherokee nation
intact, except such portions as are sold
ne occupied. In 1869 officers
4 the United States government had
contemplated setting apart a large por-
of our lands west of the Arkansas
iyer for the Cheyennes and Arapahoes.
n 1872 an act was passed authorizing
be president 70 fix the price of the
and. but it contained no provisions for
acceptance of its terms by the
'herOkee nation and ~coDSeouantIv in